U.S. ethanol production fell by more than 16 percent the week ending March 27 to an average of 840,000 barrels per day, the lowest level since September 2013, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on April 1.
Weighty Corn LLC's first commercial implementation of its fiber separation process at Pannonia Bio Zrt's 130 MMgy fuel ethanol plant in Dunaföldvár, Hungary, has been deemed a success. The company hopes to implement the technology at other plants.
Gevo Inc. has suspended production at its bioreifnery in Luverne, Minnesota, due to the impact COVID-19 has had on the economy and has terminated 30 employees. Gevo expects to continue engineering efforts related to a renewable hydrocarbon plant.
The U.S. EPA recently released RIN generation data for February, reporting that nearly 1.54 billion RINs were generated under the Renewable Fuel Standard during the month, including more than 36.77 million cellulosic RINs.
Hennepin, Illinois-based Marquis Energy sent a letter to its farmers and community members on March 27 announcing the company's ethanol plant is “economically and logistically positioned to remain open" despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Economists at the University of Illinois on March 26 published an analysis illustrating how COVID-19 is reducing demand for transportation fuels, including ethanol. Meanwhile, several plants have announced they will idle or reduce production.
FROM THE APRIL ISSUE: Researchers use new molecular biology tools to identify inhabitants of ethanol plant bacterial communities.
FROM THE APRIL ISSUE: Editor Lisa Gibson previews the magazine, including feature articles about bacteria research, cooling tower maintenance and cleaning, coverage of IRFA's January Renewable Fuels Summit, and more.
Pacific Ethanol on March 27 said it is idling capacity in response to the unprecedented decline in gasoline and ethanol demand due to the impacts of COVID-19 and announced it is providing high-quality alcohol for the production of hand sanitizer.
FROM THE APRIL ISSUE: Experts discuss different approaches to optimize cooling towers and limit summer production slowdowns.
Rex American Resources released fiscal fourth quarter financial results on March 26. The company announced a potential carbon sequestration project under development at its One Earth Energy plant in Illinois and discussed the impact of COVID-19.
The Andersons announced March 24 that it will idle its Element ethanol plant in Colwich, Kansas, for an extended maintenance and repair period and will take spring maintenance shutdowns at the four facilities owned by its joint venture with Marathon.
European ethanol producer CropEnergies has announced plans to alter its operations and partially shift production from fuel ethanol to neutral alcohol in order to help meet the need for disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. government on March 18 relaxed regulations to allow producers of fuel ethanol and beverage alcohol to shift production to ethanol-based hand sanitizers. Days later, several ethanol plants are taking action to help combat COVID-19.
Last year's low margins impacted mergers and acquisitions in North America's ethanol industry, according to a report released by Ocean Park. Total North American ethanol capacity bought and sold during 2019 was the second lowest in five years.
UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, recently released ethanol production and sales data for February and has announced its members are donating alcohol for use in hand sanitizer to help contain the spread of COVID-19.
The ethanol industry is struggling with demand destruction resulting from COVID-19, an oil price war, ongoing trade disputes, and SREs. “Folks, this is not going to be good, and our biggest concern by far is our people," said Al-Corn CEO Randy Doyal.
Ethanol producers are being impacted by the pandemic, oil war, trade disputes and small refinery waivers. With prices reaching as low as 94 cents per gallon as of March 18, ethanol producers are bracing for difficult decisions and possible closures.
Officials from Gevo Inc. discussed plans to produce renewable aviation fuel and upgrade the company's biorefinery in Luverne, Minnesota, to produce low carbon ethanol during a fourth quarter earnings call, held March 17.
Mike Jerke, president and CEO of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, dicusses ways in which his company is working to help flatten the curve of the COVID-19 outbreak while protecting employees and ensuring plant operations can continue.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, fielded questions on COVID-19 and the biofuels industry during a media call held March 16. In his comments, Grassley said the industry is “very nervous.� He also addressed the Tenth Circuit Court ruling on SREs.
A report from University of Illinois Extension shows weak demand for corn for ethanol use in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethanol production will fall dramatically, it predicts, with gasoline consumption expected to be down about 20 percent.
Aemestis Inc. released fourth quarter financial results on March 12, reporting increased revenues and progress with the development of its cellulosic ethanol and renewable natural gas (RNG) projects.
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., announced March 11 that Red Trail Energy will begin the drilling of a stratigraphic well, designed with the intent to be permitted as a Class VI injection well and used to sequester CO2 from the company's ethanol plant.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration slightly increased its forecast for 2020 ethanol production in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released March 11. The 2021 forecast, however, was unchanged.
A new study releaesd March 11 finds despite challenges, Iowa biofuel production continues to have a significant impact on Iowa's economy, supporting over 48,000 jobs and more than $2.4 billion in household income.
U.S. weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol set a new record at 24.964 million barrels the week ending Feb. 28, breaking the previous record set only two weeks earlier, according to data released by the U.S. EIA on March 4.
FROM THE MARCH ISSUE: Some ethanol plants are turning to alternative cleaning methods and naturally derived products that are more environmentally friendly than traditional chemicals.
FROM THE MARCH ISSUE: Editor Lisa Gibson previews the magazine, including feature articles about alternative cleaning methods, a study that highlights the befits of various fractionation techniques, developments in yeast strains, and more.
A new study conducted by ABF Economics for the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association has determined Minnesota's ethanol industry contributed approximately $2.31 billion to the state's gross domestic product (GDP) last year.
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